New accused sex abusers will be among those named by Jesuits on Friday

Faculty and staff members at Jesuit High School in New Orleans were told Thursday (Dec. 6) that the religious order’s regional leaders will release Friday names of priests and other members of its scholarly congregation who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse, and the list will include people who have not previously been named.

An email from the Rev. Christopher Fronk, president of the Mid-City all-boys high school, to staff and faculty acknowledged “a lot of pain, anger, embarrassment and sadness surrounding this chapter of our school’s past. I feel it too.” Fronk’s email was first reported by the New Orleans Advocate.

Friday’s release comes just over a month after the Archdiocese of New Orleans released the names of 57 clergy members who allegedly abused minors over the past several decades. That list included six Jesuit priests.

“I want to inform you in advance that some names listed will be new to you,” Fronk said in the email. “However, you should not assume that because a Jesuit worked here at some point that the allegation against him involves Jesuit High School. Concern for the privacy of victims prevents us from giving details of abuse, but this step from the province is made to be transparent, to build trust, and to help victims heal.”

The Jesuits U.S. Central and Southern Province, which includes Jesuit facilities in Louisiana and 12 other states, Belize and Puerto Rico, announced in a news release it will make public on Friday a preliminary list of priests and others in the congregation who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse going back to 1955.

Meanwhile, a private consulting company has been hired to produce a more comprehensive report on abuse in the Jesuit order. That report is expected to be completed and release in the spring, according to the news release.